SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital
July 21, 2024
SSM Health supporting REACH Waupun
WAUPUN — SSM Health is giving $5,000 to REACH Waupun to support its Get Active! program, which is designed to help improve the health and well-being of youth in the Waupun community.
The donation will also support the REACH Relief program to help under-resourced youth reduce obstacles causing chronic stress or impede their ability to learn by providing access to community resources. REACH Waupun has been an active nonprofit since 2015.
“We’re pleased to help support these very important local initiatives through our community benefit program,” according to DeAnn Thurmer, SSM Health Ripon Community Hospital/SSM Health Waupun Memorial Hospital president. “It’s vital to support services, like REACH Waupun, that address issues that may hinder safety and opportunity ensures that youth will receive the support and resources they need to overcome challenges and thrive. Additionally, early intervention can prevent negative outcomes later in life.”
The Get Active! Program provides financial assistance to students within the Waupun Area School District or Central Wisconsin Christian School to pay for fees related to sports, clubs, or extracurricular activities.
Students would qualify for a wide variety of sports, including bowling, dance, figure skating, gymnastics, hockey, swim team or swimming lessons, and wrestling. Students can receive up to $250 a year in assistance.
“Our hope with Get Active! is to be able to assist all those that apply to the program to enhance public health through physical activity and social experiences with the youth in our community,” says Jayne Harmsen, REACH Waupun executive director.
As part of the REACH Relief program, under-resourced youth can receive transportation assistance or gas cards for medical appointments, medications, outdoor apparel and footwear, behind-the-wheel class and road fees, school lunch fees not covered by Fund 80, and eyeglasses, hearing aids and associated appointments.
To learn more, call REACH Waupun at 920-325-2011 or email to reachone@reachwaupun.org.
In 2024, SSM Health’s local community benefit ministry totaled more than $568,000 across the communities it serves. This investment helps ensure access to health care for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, train the next generation of health professionals to care for those in need, and fund programs to address the most pressing health needs of our communities.
